John Adams to Richard Cranch

[dateline] Grosvenor Square March 24th. 1786

[salute] My dear Brother

In yours of the 10th. of Novr.1 you desire me to give you the Connection between the Premises and conclusion, when
I said that the Navigation act would compell all the other states to imitate it.2 If they do not the Massachusetts will soon get so much of their carrying Trade as
will richly compensate her for any present Inconvenience.

I take it for granted that the United States will make peace with the States of Barbary
altho' it may cost them two or three hundred thousand Pounds that the fears of our
Sailors and Premiums of Insurance may not make a difference between our Navigation
and European Navigations.

I take it for granted too, that the New England States, and such other as come into
the same measure and even that New Hamp• { 117 } shire and Massachusetts if they should be alone, will take care that their Laws shall
not be eluded by carrying their Produce to other states to be exported in European
Bottoms.

These postulates being premised, I am of opinion the Massachusetts can build Ships
and carry the produce of the southern States to markett, cheaper than the English
can do it, or french, or any other Nation.

I know it is the opinion of some, that the Britons especially from the Northern and
Western Parts of their Island, can sail their ships as cheap as we can, but this opinion
I think is ill founded, and will appear so more clearly now, than it did before the
late War for two reasons, one is the increase of taxes in Britain the other, that
they do not now purchase our ready built ships, but must build them at home at a much
dearer rate. I may now add, it is impossible for the English to furnish ships for
the exportation of the Southern States, who will be obliged to make navigation acts
to encourage their own shipping, or to hire ours which will increase the Ballance
against them too much in our favour.

Let it be considered further, that if we can purchase raw sugars in France with our
Oil, refine them in Boston and then send them to Petersburgh to purchase Hemp and
Duck, Navigation will support our oil trade and that our Navigation.

If any thing can prevent this conclusion it must be the want of Industry, and the
Excess of luxury in our Merchants and others. But if Luxury and Idleness are more
prevalent in the Massachusetts, than in England at present, they will not be so long,
for the unbounded Credit which gave rise to it, is at an End. Yours

2. In an effort to stimulate the state and national economy, Massachusetts, on 23 June
1785, passed a navigation act prohibiting British vessels from carrying Massachusetts
exports, levying higher duties on imports transported by foreign vessels than those
on American ships, and restricting entry of foreign bottoms carrying imports to three
Massachusetts ports—Boston, Falmouth (later Portland, Maine), and Dartmouth (Mass., Acts and Laws, Acts of 1785, May sess., ch. 8).

Docno: ADMS-04-07-02-0035

Author: Adams, John Quincy

Recipient: Shaw, Elizabeth Smith

Recipient: Peabody, Elizabeth Smith Shaw

Date: 1786-03-29

John Quincy Adams to Elizabeth Smith Shaw

[dateline] Cambridge March 29th: 1786

[salute] Dear Madam

I should, certainly have written before this, at least to show how gratefull a Sense,
I retain, of the numerous obligations, I was under { 118 } both to my Uncle, and Aunt, while I was at Haverhill. But what with going to Braintree,
and what with having been since I [ca]me here, much more closely engaged, than I shall be for the future, my [in]tention till now has failed. About 10 this morning, the man got here with my Trunks,1 very à propos, as I began, to be quite scanty for clean Linen. Every thing is as
safe, and free from damage, as I could wish. I thank you, my dear Aunt, for your Congratulations.2 It was a very fortunate Circumstance, that I obtained so good a Chamber, so near
my friends, and with a Gentleman, whose Character is much esteemed and respected universally
through College.

My articles of impeachment, will never I believe have any fatal Consequences. Indeed
when I found what was going forward at Braintree, I was so highly diverted, that I
almost wished I had known it before: but I never doubted but my Cousin, had very good
Reasons, for not letting me know it. I do not know by what association of Ideas, I
never can think of a Wind-mill, but what Don Quixote, comes into my mind. He used
to fight Wind-mills, and if his Head, had not run so much upon fighting, perhaps he
might have built them. There is no great difference, between the two projects.

The man, returns so soon, that I have not Time, to say, any more: by the next Post
I intend to write to my Cousin, and shall be able to be more particular.